Matheronodon

Say it like this: “math-uh-ron-o-don”

Matheronodon provincialis

Matheronodon ate plants and walked on two legs. It lived in the Late Cretaceous. Bones have been found in France.

Quiz me on Matheronodon

When: Late Cretaceous (Campanian) · roughly 83.6 to 72.2 million years ago
Named in: 2017 · Godefroit, P.; Garcia, G.; Gomez, B.; Stein, K.; Cincotta, A.; Lefèvre, U.; Valentin, X.
Hip height: Not established
Length: 5 m · 16 ft
Weight: Not established
Found in: France · Argiles et Grès à Reptiles
Food and walking: Herbivore · Two legs
Kind: beaked plant-eater · Ornithopod
Family branch: Rhabdodontidae

The story in short

Matheronodon was formally named in 2017 by P. Godefroit and colleagues. The name honors a person tied to the fossil or its study.

Fossils referred to Matheronodon date to the Late Cretaceous (Campanian), roughly 83.6 to 72.2 million years ago. Finds come from France, including the Argiles et Grès à Reptiles Formation. It was a herbivore and walked on two legs.

Published estimates put Matheronodon at a length near 5 m.

On the family tree it sits in Rhabdodontidae, among the ornithopod dinosaurs.

Close relatives

Mochlodon

Mochlodon suessi

Late Cretaceous (Santonian · Campanian) · roughly 85.7 to 72.2 million years ago

Pareisactus

Pareisactus evrostos

Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) · roughly 72.2 to 66 million years ago

Rhabdodon

Rhabdodon priscus

Late Cretaceous (Campanian · Maastrichtian) · roughly 83.6 to 66 million years ago